FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN) – Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz announced she will seek another term, but this time, it will be for a new district, after the Florida Legislature redrew boundaries.

Wasserman Schultz, currently serving her 11th term in the United States Congress, touted her years of experience in Friday’s announcement that she is running for reelection in Florida’s District 20.

“I’ll use all my seniority and clout in Washington to continue to make our lives more affordable and make Broward [County] a safer, less expensive place to live, raise a family and retire,” she said in a video message. “Some people do a lot of talking. I work hard to deliver results. I’ve fought for the people of Broward County my whole adult life.”

She dived into some familiar themes of healthcare and opposition to Republicans.

“Republicans couldn’t care less about lowering your healthcare, gas or grocery bill,” she said in her video.

Wasserman Schultz’s old district included much of west Broward and consisted of less than 20 percent of Black voters. This newly redrawn district encompasses most of central Broward, parts of Pompano Beach and Deerfield Beach. Black voters make up over 40 percent of voters in this district.

“They blew our districts to smithereens in Broward County,” said the congresswoman.

However, Black Democratic leaders have said publicly that they think that nearby District 20 is not the right fit for the longtime lawmaker. That district was most recently represented by Sheila Cherflus-McCormick and Alcee Hastings for years before her.

Corey Shearer, president of the Broward Democratic Black Caucus, said the district has a long history of black representation and despite political alignment with Wasserman Schultz, she’s just not from the community.

“She cannot be a member of the Congressional Black Caucus. She’s not from this community and there’s no getting around that,” he said. “She will just be a candidate. If people feel she’s too big to fail or of all the work she has done, she’s just going to be a candidate going up against candidates who are from our community.”

The announcement comes about a month after the redistricting changed several boundaries, upending Broward’s congressional districts and diluting the power of traditional Democratic areas.

These changes created four new Republican leaning seats in the state of Florida and largely eliminated Wasserman Schultz’s district, District 25, which included Weston, Pembroke Pines and Davie.

Shearer said he had hoped Wasserman Schultz would’ve fought in her old area instead of jumping into this race.

“I had hope that she would’ve chosen to travel and fight in that district, similar to what [U.S. Rep.] Hakeem Jeffries said that we would do, fight in some of these new Republican districts,” he said.

Wasserman Schultz, 59, will be facing a very large field in the Democratic primary for District 20, different than it has been in years past, suggesting that victory would not necessarily be assured.

Still, she said her work for the community speaks for itself.

“People know me. They know I show up for them, they know I have their back and they know I have the experience to deliver results,” said Wasserman Schultz.

This is all unfolding after several lawsuits have been filed in response to the boundary changes that have upended South Florida politics, at least at the national level.

The primary will be held on Aug. 18 and the general election between the Democrat and Republican nominee will be held on Nov. 3.

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